William Jennings Bryant
William Jennings Bryant was the leader of the Populists. He ran for president representing the populist wing of the Democratic party in 1896, 1900, and 1908. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 1890 and also served as Secretary of State under President Woodrow Wilson from 1913 to 1915.
He supported:
- women's suffrage
- rights of farmers and laborers
- popular democracy
He opposed:
- the gold standard
- major corporations
- teaching evolution in schools
"There are two ideas of government. There are those who believe that if you just legislate to make the well-to-do prosperous, that their prosperity will leak through on those below. The Democratic idea has been that if you legislate to make the masses prosperous their prosperity will find its way up and through every class that rests upon it. You come to us and tell us that the great cities are in favor of the gold standard. I tell you that the great cities rest upon these broad and fertile prairies. Burn down your cities and leave our farms, and your cities will spring up again as if by magic. But destroy our farms and the grass will grow in the streets of every city in the country." -Williams Jennings Bryant
To find out more click here